Refrigerating apparatus



March 1, 1932. J. A. MACREADY ET'AL 1,847,092

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l M r 1, 19 .1. A. MACREADY ET AL 1,847,092

REFRI GEHAT I NG APPARATUS Filed July 1928 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 Patented Mar. 1. 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN A. MACREAIDY 'AIND DE WITT E. WYATT, OF. DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO PATENT OFFICE FRIGIDAIBE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON,-H10, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE mmcmrmc arrana'rus Application filed m so, 1928. Serial in. 296,288.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for cooling water, for instance, for drinking water purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cooling water which may be accidently frozen without bursting the water container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for cooling water which has a large capacity for cooling water.

Another object of this invention is'to provide an apparatus for cooling water which is not liable to have fungous growth developed therein.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearl-y shown. I

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical crosssectional view of an apparatus embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of a tank which may be used in the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic showing the action when the tank is being frozen by the evaporator;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form; s

Fig. 5 is anotherview similar to Fig. 3 of a further modified formmnd Fig. 6 is an diagrammatic view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

An apparatusembodying features of our invention may comprise in general a refrigerant liquefying-unit designated as 20, a water tank generally designated as 21 and a water cooling member generally designated at 22. The refrigerant liquefying unit 20 is adapted to deliver liquid refrigerant through the pipe 23 to the evaporator or boiler 22. Evaporat- 'other end with a subheade'r 27. may be provided with fins 28 for increasing the thermal conductivity. The shell 25 may ed refrigerant ma be returned through the pipe 24 to the refrigerant liquefying .unit 20. The evaporator 22 may be of any suitable type, for instance it. maybe of the type discIosed in the copending application of Jesse G.,King, Serial No. 236,718, filed November 30, 1927. It comprises in general a cylindrical spun brass shell 25 provided with a plurality of tubes 26 which are connected at the The tubes 26 be provided with a refrigerant flow control apparatus which comprises a float controlled refrigerantinlet and with a refrigerant outlet device substantially of thecharacter disclosed in the French patent to Security Trust Company, 547,971, published December 29,

The water tank 21 may comprise a cylindrical shell 30 provided with an end wall comprising a suitable end piece 31 joined by clamping the edges 32 as shown. The other end wall of the tank may be provided with a cast metal plate or annular member 33 to which the cooling member 22 may be secured .by means of the flange 34. The annular member 33 is provided with an opening into the evaporator or boiler 22 closed by the plate 35a. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the float controlled mechanism and the outlet mechanism may be removed independently of the boiler or evaporator 22 by manipulating the bolts 35 since they are mounted on a plate 35a. Suitable insulation 36 may be placed around the tank. For this purpose a cylindrical outer casing 37 of galvanized sheet metal may be provided. A cylindrical sleeve 38 may be placed at one end of the outer casing 37 for the insertion and removal of the float control mechanism. A suitable cover ofinsulation 39 may be provided for the sleeve.

We have discovered that a water cooling device of this character, if it should be accidently frozen by the evaporator 22, may be formation of ice. We have discovered that;

water coolers may be prevented from burst-v ing if the proper relief means is provided ,where these liquid pockets are liable toform.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 such a liquid pocket is liable to form at the point designated as 40. We have provided suitable relief means at this point. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the water inlet pipe 41 is placed at this point so that when the pressure tends to increase in the pocket 40, due to freezing the water may back up in the water inlet 41. Thus the inlet 41 is inherently provided with pressure relief means. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 we have provided relief means for the pocket 40.. In this embodiment we have provided an auxiliary pipe 42 provided with an automatic pressure responsive valve 43 for relieving the pressure in the pocket 40. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 we have provided relief means for the pocket 40 by placing the water outlet 44 at this point. An automatic pressure responsive valve 45 may be placed in the pipe 44 for relieving the pressure in the pocket 40.

As shown in Fig. 2 the water inlet 41 is placed at a point where a water pocket is liable to form in the freezing of the Water in the tank 21. We have discovered that, in the particular form shown in Fig.2, the point where the pipe 41 is placed at the top of the tank 21 will prevent the tank 21 from bursting even though it may be frozen solidly many times. The water outlet, in this particular case, may comprise a pipe leading toa point immediately below the header 25 and may lead to a suitable fitting 51 provided with branches 52 and 53 connected to suitable A suitable cooled water delivery devices. dram 54 may be provided for draining the tank 21 completely if it should be so desired.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, a compressor may be driven by means of an electric motor 61 through the medium of a belt 62. The compressor 60 delivers compressed refrigerant through the plpe 63 to the condenser 64. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 64 is delivered by the pipe 23 to the evaporator 22. The

. evaporated refrigerant'is returned by the (iii . pipe 24 to the compressor 60. The motor- 61 may be started and stopped by means of a snap switch 67 provided with a pressure responsive element 68 which may be connected by means of the pipe 69 with the low pressure refrigerant pipe 24. A water supply main 70 may supply all of the water for the deviceif desired. The water supply 70 may be connected to the inlet 41 of the tank 21. A branch 71 may lead to the outer casing 72 of the condenser 64. The outer casing 72,

may discharge through the waste pipe 73 to the main waste pipe 74. The flow of Water through the casing 72 may be controlled by an automatic valve 75 which is responsive to a pressure responsive device 76 connected by means of a pipe 77 with the pipe 63 containing the high pressure refrigerant, being in other respects as shown in Patent 1,478,421. Thus the valve 75 maintains the condenser 64 at the proper temperature and prevents the waste of water when the mechanism is not running. The tank 21 may have its outlet 50 connected to branches -52 and 53 which deliver the cool water to These devices may be provided with waste.

water pipes 82 and 83 leading to the main waste pipe 74. A suitable valve 84 may be provided in the branch 52. The drain pipe 54 may be provided with a valve 85 and may be connected by the pipe 86 with the main Waste pipe 74.

As the tank 21 is substantially filled with water under pressure, fungous growths do not form therein.

The cabinet may comprise a cage-like angle iron frame having uprights 90 at the vertical corners and horizontal members 91 at the horizontal corners joined by gussets 90a. The bottoms of the members 90 may be provided with slotted members 92 adapted to receive the lower edges 93 of the panels 94. The edges 93' may be offset if desired. The panels, at the vertical corners may overlap by curling the edges of some of the panels around the corners. The top 95 may be provided with a downward flange 96. Thus each of the panels 94 may he slid upwardly under the flange 96 until the lower edge 93 can be placed in the slot'of member 92. The panel may then be dropped into the slot and is held in place by the slot and by the flange 96 without the use of screws or other fastening means. Access to the interior of the cabinet is therefore very easy.

The top 95 may be secured in any desired manner. Thus, cross pieces 97 may be se cured with upward projections 98 to the horizontal members 95. The drain pipes 83 and 82 may be secured to these cross pieces 97 by nuts 99. The fittings 80, 81 and 84 may be first connected and tested, since the pipes 52 and 53 may be flexible copper tubing. Thereafter the top 96 may be secured in place by drain fitting 100, provided with a suitable gasket and being screwed into fitting 101.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is .to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within .;creases in volume, said apparatus including a pressure relief at the last place to freeze in said body of water while the liquid in said tank is being frozen by said refrigerating unit.

2. A liquid cooling apparatus including a tank adapted to be substantially filled with liquid to be cooled, a liquid inlet, connection and a liquid outlet connection connected to said tank, a mechanical refrigerating unit for cooling the liquid in said tank, said unit "being of such a shape and so arranged as to freeze the water gradually to leave in said a tank a mass of water which gradually decreases in volume, one of said connections being connected to said tank at the last place to freeze in said body of water while the liquid in said tank is being frozen by said refrigerating unit, said last named connection providing pressure relief means.

3. A liquid cooling apparatus including a tank adapted to be substantially filled wit liquid to be cooled, liquid connections including a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected to said tank, a mechanical refrigerating unit adapted to cool the liquid in said tank, said unit being of such a shape and so arranged as to freeze the water gradually to leave in said tank a mass of water which gradually decreases in volume, said liquid inlet being connected to said tank at the last place to freeze in said body of water while the liquid in said tank is being frozen by said refrigerating unit, to provide a pressure relief means.

4. A liquid cooling device comprising. a cylindrical tank adapted to be connected to a liquid supply under pressure and to be filled with liquid under said pressure, an automatically 'fiooded evaporator in said tank substantially cylindrical in shape and coaxially arranged with said vtank, said evaporator being of such a shape and so arranged as to freeze the water gradually to leave in said tank a mass of water which gradually decreases in volume, a liquid inlet connection on said tank to be connected with said supply, said inlet connection being located where said mass of water in said tank is last to be frozen by said evaporator.

5. A liquid cooling device com rising in combination a substantially cylindrical liquid tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, an end wall on said tank, a substantially cylindrical refrigerant boiler in said tank connected to said end wall, a plate, a refrigerant flow control apparatus carried by said plate and removably inserted in said boiler, said plate being removably secured to said end wall and removable inde lidentl of said boiler, said boiler being 0 such a s ape and so arranged as to freeze the water gradually to leave in said tank a mass of water which'gradually decreases in vol ume towards the top and the end away from said plate, said liquid inlet being located at the top of said-tank and atthe-end away from said plate.

In testimony whereof .we hereto aflix our signatures.

' JOHN A. MACREADY,

DE WITT H. WYATT. 

